Chapter 98: Lein back
The battle on the Indonesian Alliance island has been raging for several hours now. Nearly 10,000 lives have been lost, most of them belonging to people who haven't awakened their system and elderly individuals. Some wealthy families are attempting to relocate to other islands and seek refuge within different alliances.
For the poor, they can only resign themselves to fate, hoping for rescue from the government.
In an urban area, many high-rise buildings have been destroyed. The fierce battle between Indonesian soldiers and the human rulers who have joined the Blood Race is wreaking havoc. A massive fireball descends from the sky, obliterating a group of Blood Race soldiers.
On the other side, the Blood Race's abilities are equally terrifying. Within a 100-meter radius, their power increases by 10%. Every drop of blood spilled by the Indonesian soldiers strengthens the Blood Race's formation.
In the distance, a man with a large shield in his hand is fending off the Blood Race soldiers, reflecting their attacks back at them. The golden light from the shield is so powerful that the reflected attacks can kill the very Blood Race soldiers who launched them.
The man with the shield notices a Blood Race leader approaching with a long red sword in hand. The Blood Race leader rushes forward and slashes directly at the man with the golden shield.
The golden shield completely blocks the Blood Race leader's slash.
"Haha... Leader Tedi, your shield is as strong as ever," the Blood Race leader remarks, eyeing the shield in Tedi's hand.
Tedi doesn't reply. Instead, he leaps high into the air, his shield aimed downward as he propels himself with his legs.
The shield, which was originally one meter in size, expands to 10 meters, its golden aura growing even stronger.
Seeing the 10-meter shield falling from the sky, the Blood Race leader tries to escape.
"Damn it... Why can't I move?"
The Blood Race leader panics, seeing his legs entangled in thorny vines. He looks around, trying to identify the source.
Not far away, he spots a woman with a green light orb in her hand, surrounded by roots and vines. She appears to be fused with the plants around her.
"Master Tedi, hurry..."
The woman shouts, knowing her entangling roots won't hold the Blood Race leader for long, and he'll soon be free to escape.
The Blood Race leader is completely immobilized, his arms bound by thick vines, with tiny thorns piercing his skin, slowly sapping his strength.
Captain Tedi's shield has landed, striking directly at the spot where the Blood Race leader once stood.
Captain Tedi pauses for a moment, checking his system panel, which confirms the kill.
"Damn, these people have no sense of fear! And their physical resilience is incredibly strong," mutters a military captain leading a group of soldiers.
"Yes, sir. I believe they're only afraid of light-based attacks," replies a soldier with a light mage class.
The remaining Blood Race soldiers, seeing their leader brutally killed by Captain Tedi, experience a dip in morale. But it doesn't last long, as another leader arrives on the scene.
The newly arrived leader is a ruler with the ability to transform into a beast resembling a giant crab. His large claws, covered in sharp spikes, emit a bloody aura, signaling that they have claimed dozens, if not hundreds, of lives.
"Lina, fall back, find a safe position behind us," Captain Tedi orders the woman with the plant abilities.
"Yes, Captain."
Judging by the situation on both sides, there is no clear winner or loser. The higher-ups of the Indonesian Alliance aren't even counting on the President or General Bowo making an appearance anytime soon. They have hidden a substantial portion of their forces.
---
Teleportation Hub, Indonesian Alliance.
A young man with a somewhat handsome face steps out of a portal. He is dressed in a blue robe with golden stripes, a white belt around his waist securing a one-meter-long golden sword.
The young man calmly surveys his surroundings—the tall lightning tower at the center of the Teleportation Hub, the four main gates at each side of the wall, and the well-equipped soldiers stationed there.
"I'm back," he says.
Yes, this young man is Lein. After finishing dinner with the Su Yiling family, Lein immediately headed for the teleportation portal to return to the alliance island.
The first thing on his mind now is Nita. He hopes she has been obedient and hasn't ignored his orders.
As the alliance leader, Lein is, of course, aware of everything happening within his alliance and the events occurring in other alliances, such as the ongoing situation in the Indonesian Alliance.
He is quite worried that Nita might have gone off on her own to show off on the Indonesian Alliance island without adequate preparation.
"Welcome back, sir," a soldier approaches Lein, standing at attention and greeting him respectfully.
Lein looks at him casually and smiles. "Thank you. Document everything I've written on this note."
Lein hands over a piece of paper containing detailed information about the realm of the Qian Race that he had previously visited.
"Understood, sir," the soldier replies with a firm voice, taking the paper that Lein offered him with a respectful nod.
Lein nods in acknowledgment and then proceeds to walk towards the northern gate. His pace is leisurely, his gait relaxed, and a smile plays on his lips as he takes in the familiar sights around him.
"It's good to see that the city I built remains as bustling as ever," Lein muses to himself.
"People from various islands now regard my island as a haven, a place far more comfortable and secure than many others they've known."
Most of the people around the Teleportation Hub don't recognize Lein. This isn't surprising, given that Lein rarely makes public appearances or holds meetings in the open.
"Master Lein, you've returned."
"Welcome back, Master Lein."
"Master Lein..."
However, there are a few long-term residents of the World Market Trade Alliance who have lived here for quite some time and do recognize Lein. They greet him warmly, though they keep a respectful distance. To these individuals, Lein is a figure of great importance and reverence, something evident in the way they regard him with deep respect.